I exit the karaoke place walking a certain distance away from the place as a voice called out to me.
"" Satoshi-kun, wait!""
A female voice was calling me from behind, I knew the owner of the voice as she was my friend Himari Hayami.
I turned to see Himari looking at me from a distance with a relieved look on her face.
"" What is it Himari-san?""
I turned around to reply to her call.
"" Um, does it hurt Satoshi-kun?""
What a strange way of starting a conversation seeing me taking down a person the second time didn't shock Himari at all. Rather, it is funny to see her worrying for me like this without hearing the explanation of Shinubo-san.
"" You don't need to worry it is just a bruise it will heal in a day, although my hand hurts a little due to the movement I did.""
I replied to her while she walked closer towards me.
"" I am glad you were unhurt from all of that Satoshi-kun, I am sorry for not being able to help you.""
"" So, you trusted me till the very end?""
"" I believe you wouldn't ever do anything bad to the establishment Satoshi-kun, although I was thinking about why you were here, I never expected that you talked to the manager of the place.""
Himari tells me her thoughts about what happened.
"" You should doubt me sometimes it would be bad if you trusted me too much Himari-san.""
"" You're not that kind of person I expected you to be Satoshi-kun, I knew you don't have bad intentions since I spent quite a lot of time with you inside your place you know?""
"" Don't say that I might attack you one time and you will regret it.""
"" But you didn't after all the times I went to your place.""
"" Fine, so what are you going to do now Himari-san? I'm tired now I want to return back home and rest.""
"" May I come with you then? I also want to go back home, also I'll cook later for the both of us you may have injured your hand, I'm worried for you Satoshi-kun.""
Himari went by my side asking me with a complicated look on her face.
"" Are you sure you want to come with me, I thought you were going to have fun until 6?""
"" I was forced to join, I also want to talk to Satoshi-kun about Noguchi-san later, so I want to go home.""
"" Well then, if you want to talk about it, I suppose it is important for me to hear since I just had an encounter with him. Let's go back home Himari-san.""
We both walked back to the apartment, although I notice Himari was fidgeting along the way trying to say something.
We went inside our rooms first to get ready since we were still wearing our uniforms, although mine was shriveled due to my actions earlier.
After waiting for a while Himari was in front of my door wearing her casual clothes which always makes her look captivating.
"" Hello again Satoshi-kun I'm coming in today I hope you don't mind.""
"" You're always welcome here Himari-san but, you don't really need to cook for me you know?""
"" Please don't say that Satoshi-kun, your hand was hurt earlier so please rest in the couch.""
Himari comes inside the room proceeding to the kitchen.
"" Is there anything you want to eat today Satoshi-kun?""
"" I'll only eat a little bit so don't cook a heavy meal Himari-san.""
I replied to Himari who opened the fridge to take out the ingredients she needs.
While doing so, I could see that she had a sad look in her face which was something I don't see every day. I am guessing that she is thinking about something, so I left her as is. I took out a novel and began reading while silently waiting for Himari to finish cooking dinner.
The room was silent for a while since both of us didn't utter a word. Only the sizzling of oil and the flipping of pages were heard in the room. It was peaceful inside the room, and I was engrossed reading the novel until Himari called out to me.
"" Um, Satoshi-kun.....""
"" Yes, what it is Himari?""
"" About Noguchi-san, what happened between the two of you to leading to that situation?""
"" Well, it's hard to describe this since I don't really know the whole story as well but, I think it has something to do with you actually.""
"" So, he really did target you, I'm sorry for causing you trouble Satoshi-kun.""
Himari looked down feeling sad, is this perhaps the reason why she had that look?
"" I couldn't do anything to help you, even though you were kind to me, even though I used you to keep the confessions to a minimum. I couldn't do anything for you when the situation escalated, I'm really sorry.""
"" Seems like Noguchi was right about you using me but I really don't mind that Himari-san.""
"" But...""
"" After all the time I spent with you I just think that you were a normal girl who needs someone to listen. I don't regret being your friend Himari-san.""
When Himari heard that, her face softened looking at me with relief.
"" I also feel the same, after getting to know you better I realize that you are a kind and understanding person. I'm happy to become a friend of someone like that.""
Kind and understanding, those words were constantly repeating inside my head. To Himari's eyes I'm someone like that, but to me that wasn't the case at all.
"" Himari-san are you really sure that's how you see me as a person?""
Himari looked at me with a confused look in her face, she shook her head looking back at me with a determined look.
"" Satoshi-kun, don't degrade yourself like that. For me, who has spent time with you after all this time will be sad if you say things like that to yourself.""
"" Even so, I don't think the time we spent together is enough to gauge me completely Himari-san you should not trust me too much.""
"" Even if you say that, Satoshi-kun is kind for me and that wouldn't change. You forgave me for using you for my own selfishness.""
Himari looks at me keeping a determined look on her face. I am currently harmless in front of her since she isn't something that can bring harm to me. I believe that at a certain point in her life she will see how cruel I can be.
After all, I'm someone who isn't supposed to be here living like this.
I hope you won't regret trusting me Himari-san, one day you will be scared of me to the point you will want to think this was a dream.
"" Himari...""
"" What is it Satoshi-kun?""
"" Thank you for being my friend, I'm really grateful for your words.""
"" I think I'm luckier to be friends with you Satoshi-kun. You were better than how you present yourself in public.""
"" I only show my true self when it is needed, I don't really like to be in the spotlight.""
"" Hehehe, I'm glad to see this part of you.""
Himari smiled, it was a much more different smile than that of the "Angel" and her former smile towards me.
"" You know Himari-san, if you smiled like this more, I think the male population would bow to you.""
"" Does that include you Satoshi-kun?""
"" Nope, I have a someone younger than me who is like that, so I have a strong immunity towards this.""
"" Hmph, you're more relaxed than you are used to Satoshi-kun.""
"" It's because of you Himari-san you're much more relaxed than usual.""
"" I'm just happy to have you as a friend you know. I've been wanting one for a long time.""
"" Don't you have other friends in school?""
"" I think you're much more of a friend to me than them Satoshi-kun.""
"" I'm honored by your words.""
"" It's done Satoshi-kun, I'll prepare the table please take a seat and wait for a while.""
"" I'm not really that injured you know?""
"" It's fine, think of this as compensation for the trouble I caused you.""
"" Fine, I'll leave you to it then.""
I sat down on the chair waiting while Himari was placing the plates and food on the table.
"" It looks delicious Himari-san.""
"" I learned from you after all, I think this is one of the best dishes I can make right now. Please tell me your thoughts about it.""
"" I think it will be delicious Himari-san, I haven't eaten anything bad from your cooking you know?""
"" Please save that for later Satoshi-kun, experience first before talking.""
"" Let's eat then....""
After doing our usual talk about the food after eating we both were cleaning the dishes, we used with me wiping the plates.
"" You know Satoshi-kun I'm worried about what's going to happen on Monday. Noguchi-san might target you again since might have damaged his pride.""
"" Don't worry about Noguchi, he won't be able to do what he wants anymore.""
"" You sure are calm when someone like Noguchi-san has his eyes on you. You do know that he is from an influential family right Satoshi-kun?""
"" If you mean the Noguchi family then yes, I know of them but unlike Noguchi Aku, there is someone reasonable in their family and that person won't accept the actions of Noguchi Aku.""
"" So, you know someone from the Noguchi family Satoshi-kun?""
"" I'll leave that to your imagination Himari-san.""
"" So, it is a secret of yours, it's fine if you won't tell me about it although I'm more curious about you now.""
"" I'm just a normal student trying to live what is there to know about me?""
Himari was silent but she had a smile on her face indicating that she was glad.
"" If you say that there isn't any problem, then I won't pursue that matter anymore. If you need me to help you just ask me alright? I am partly to blame for this as well.""
Himari handed me the last plate to wipe looking at me with a happy expression.
"" Please take care of yourself Satoshi-kun, I don't want to see my friend getting hurt because of me so I want to help out even a little.""
After I finished wiping the plate, I walked over to escort Himari out of my place.
"" You worry too much Himari-san, I'm used to this kinds of things. Defending myself from danger also comes with pain so I'm prepared to feel a little pain if it means to protect myself.""
"" Still, tell me if you hurt yourself again, I will help you out.""
"" Thanks, that's reassuring...""
"" I guess I'll see you tomorrow then Satoshi-kun, I hope you rest well later.""
"" Ah, I need to go somewhere tomorrow so I might not be around the whole day.""
"" Is that so?""
"" Yeah, it is an important matter for me to attend so I can't reject going there.""
"" If you're not around the whole day then you might be tired when you arrive back. May I cook dinner for the both of us then?""
"" You sure take every chance to make me critique your food.""
"" That's because you're the only one I can rely on this Satoshi-kun.""
"" Then I'll look forward to it Himari-san.""
"" Please do, I have a new dish to try out so you will be the first person to eat it.""
With that Himari went inside her room. I closed my door and did my homework before finally going to bed.
Himari was more relaxed today; she must have been more trusting to me since I got involved with her problems. She genuinely looks at me as a friend but, placing her trust on me is a fatal mistake.
I'm not the kind of person you see me as Himari-san. I'm really sorry for being someone who will hurt you in the future.
A memory from the past plays inside my head...
"" You've changed Leon, I don't think I like your change.""
"" I think changing myself is inevitable, to survive this place I need to throw away a lot of things.""
"" Stop it Leon! I don't want to see you like this! Look at yourself, your eyes look empty and dull!""
"" Is that so?""
"" Leon please.....""
That's right, I am a horrible person...